It has been special teams winning the last two games involving the Silverbacks, and tonight should be no different.
The Merritt Centennials have played four games earning 25 power plays and taking 33 penalties. The Silverbacks in two games have had 13 man advantages while going down a man 16 times. Four of the seven goals Salmon Arm has scored this season have been on the power play, while Merritt has two of their 18 on the man advantage.
Salmon Arm will have to recover from their 6-3 loss last night at the hands of the Trail Smoke Eaters. Both teams were guilty of taking penalties with the Silverbacks heading to the box nine times to the Smoke Eaters eight visits.
The silver lining for the Silverbacks was Tyson Gayfer who scored in his BCHL debut last night. 30 seconds after Trail made it 1-0 in the first, the former Thompson Blazer Captain was able to find a loose puck in front of the crease and shovel it in to tie the game. Hudson Schandor scored his second power play goal in as many games, and Air Force commit Trevor Adams scored his first of the season.
Merritt meanwhile is coming off a big win last night as home as they toppled the reigning BCHL champions Wenatchee Wild. The Centennials scored three goals in the first and three in the second to roll out the big victory. One area of struggle in the game was their penalty kill which the Silverbacks can look to take advantage of. Merritt had to kill 10 penalties, and allowed goals while down a man.
Tonight’s matchup is a rematch of last weekend when the Silverbacks opened their season with a 4-2 win over the Cents. Salmon Arm was three for six on the power play that night and killed off all seven penalties they took. At home Salmon Arm is 1-0 while the Cents are 0-1.
